Flavia (and Dogger) continue to delight me. The mysteries continue to frustrate me. Will I continue to read this series (even though this was originally supposed to be the last book)? Most likely.
The book opens at Flavia’s sister’s wedding to the German POW Dieter. Feely finds a severed finger in her wedding cake. She loses it and almost ruins her own wedding; Flavia is fascinated, and quickly tucks the finger away. Whose finger is it? Who put it there? Why? Flavia and Dogger are on the case, with their new investigative business, Arthur Dogger & Associates. And they have their first paying client! (It is adorable the entire book to see a grown man conducting legitimate business with a twelve year old.) The woman hires them to find some missing letters that neither Dogger nor Flavia think are actually missing.
I should say that even though I opened this review complaining about the mysteries again, this is actually the best put together one in ages. Flavia (and Dogger) do actual detective work, and Flavia just happening upon a clue out of nowhere, which is the usual way she solves mysteries, only happened once here that I noticed. Instead, they worked for all their clues, which is much how I prefer it. My complaint with the mystery this time is that it was actually pretty confusing when put together. I’m still not sure I understood the actual chain of events, and how everything related together.
But the characters were on top form here. Even the little monster Undine got some good development, but especially Dogger, who is a rock star.
[3.5 stars]